Maximize Your Summer

Summer has arrived leaving many of America’s youth stuck at home to play video games and watch television. Three months of summer will be nothing but boredom if spent in doors, plopped on a couch. Instead of watching your vacation fly by, take a few minutes to research many of the summer opportunities available to you. If you look in the right place, you can find a job, internship, or volunteer gig near your neighborhood that will allow you to gain real life experiences to set you up for success once your school years are behind you. Here are a few tips to help you find those opportunities and make the most of them!

Get involved in your community! Find Youth Info is a great website to connect with other youth, find organizations within your community to get involved with, and provides youth with many resources to find their niche.

Pick up a new hobby this summer! What is a better time of year than now to explore your interests?! This summer, pick up your dad’s old guitar, dust off the basketball in the garage, or stop by the used book store to pick up some classics. In between TV shows you can develop your own personal skills while you have the freedom to do what you want to do! Find additional ways to explore your interests this summer and be sure to make the most of them.

Go outside. Seriously.. go! In most places of the United States, the temperatures are heating up and sending all of us indoors, trapped in air-conditioned buildings. If you find yourself restless from confinement, explore your neighborhood, local parks, and even some hiking trails. The best time of day is early in the mornings or early evenings. You’ll be amazed at how many opportunities you have to enjoy in your community without spending a dime!

Apply for a summer job, internship, or volunteer position! There isn’t a better way to start building your professional resume and keep your mind occupied. Whether you are able to find a paying job or volunteer position, you will learn skills, build relationships, and set yourself up for long-term success. Check out this website for more details on how to maximize your summer job: http://www.fastweb.com/career-planning/articles/3932-maximize-your-summer-job.

Enjoy your time away from school. Spend some time learning about the topics you are interested in. After high school comes college. Many college students do not know what they want to study or where they want to work professionally until years later, once they had experience. Take time to read about different professions, find businesses near your neighborhood to shadow a professional, and start realizing your passions, goals, and strengths to develop your professional career.

Looking for an academic-based summer opportunity? There are plenty! Find the program that suits you best this summer and prepares you for college.